SNAKE CHARMER! Man catches snake slithering in downtown Cambridge

Published: June 20, 2014 1:00 PM

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Don Compton holds onto a four-foot-long rat snake that moseyed into downtown Cambridge on Thursday afternoon, causing quite a commotion. The snake was seen making its way along the sidewalk in the 700 block of Wheeling Avenue near Artrageous Hair Design. Slithering its way past a number of fascinated onlookers, it traveled down a set of steps next to a building on North Seventh Street. An Artrageous employee attempted but failed to capture the snake in a box. The snake curled up against a wall in an apparent defensive posture. Then, Compton, who was stopped at a traffic signal while on his way to work in his pickup truck, asked about the commotion. Informed, he hopped out of his truck to take a look. The snake at that time lay on steps several feet below sidewalk level. Compton ventured down the steps to grab the snake, but the snake decided that was not in its best interests and made several strikes at Compton's legs. Compton then put his foot on the snake's neck, reached down and picked it up. He climbed back into his truck, snake in hand, to take it to the woods for release. Coworkers riding with him didn't look too enthused about their new passenger. Compton drove off, up Wheeling Avenue. In the bottom photo, Compton holds onto the snake as bystanders take photos and wince after the unusual ordeal.